ATP + an alpha-Hep-(1->3)-alpha-Hep-(1->5)-[alpha-Kdo-(2->4)]-alpha-Kdo-(2->6)-[lipid A] = ADP + an alpha-Hep-(1->3)-4-O-phospho-alpha-Hep-(1->5)-[alpha-Kdo-(2->4)]-alpha-Kdo-(2->6)-[lipid A] [RN:R12951]
The enzyme catalyses the phosphorylation of L-glycero-D-manno-heptose I (the first heptose added to the lipid, Hep I) in the biosynthesis of the inner core oligosaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) of some Gram-negative bacteria.
WaaP of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a novel eukaryotic type protein-tyrosine kinase as well as a sugar kinase essential for the biosynthesis of core lipopolysaccharide.